croon

C1 Topic:Art & Music

US /kruːn/ UK /kruːn/ See IPA manual

Freq #45969

Meanings

1

verb
to sing or hum softly in a low, gentle, or sentimental voice

He began to croon an old tune beside the fire.
2

verb
to soothe a person or animal by singing softly

She tried to croon the restless baby to sleep.
3

noun
a soft, low-pitched hum, song, or murmuring sound

The singer's quiet croon was barely audible above the piano.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to sing or hum softly in a... humsing softlycoo

2 verb · to soothe a person or... soothe lull

3 noun · a soft, low-pitched hum,... hum murmur

Opposites

shoutbelt out

Word family

Forms croonedcrooning

Derived forms croonercrooningcroony

Related forms hum lullaby coo sing

Etymology

Borrowed into standard English from Scots croon, 'utter a low sound, lament, or sing softly,' which continues Middle English cronen. The older Germanic relatives meant 'groan, moan, or chatter.' The modern sentimental singing sense became especially prominent with microphone-assisted popular singers.

Topics

Art & Music

External links

# croon

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /kruːn/
**IPA (UK):** /kruːn/
**Frequency rank:** 45969

## Meanings
1. to sing or hum softly in a low, gentle, or sentimental voice
2. to soothe a person or animal by singing softly
3. a soft, low-pitched hum, song, or murmuring sound

## Examples
- He began to croon an old tune beside the fire.
- She tried to croon the restless baby to sleep.
- The singer's quiet croon was barely audible above the piano.

## Synonyms
- hum
- sing softly
- coo
- murmur

## Antonyms
- shout
- belt out

## Derived Forms
- crooner
- crooning
- croony

## Related Forms
- hum
- lullaby
- coo
- sing

## Etymology
Borrowed into standard English from Scots croon, 'utter a low sound, lament, or sing softly,' which continues Middle English cronen. The older Germanic relatives meant 'groan, moan, or chatter.' The modern sentimental singing sense became especially prominent with microphone-assisted popular singers.

## Topics
- Art & Music

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